MP Alun Cairns, a member of the All Party Group on Argentina, said he was
offended by some the comments made by Argentine foreign minister Hector
Timerman during their meeting to discuss the Falklands on Tuesday.

9:37AM GMT 06 Feb 2013

Mr Cairns, Conservative MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, said he was "offended" by comments from the Argentine foreign minister at the House of Commons meeting to discuss the Falkland Islands.

"Effectively, he dismissed the right of self-determination to the Falkland Islanders on the obscure reason that it's a territory rather than a country or a nation," he said.

The Tory MP and Welsh Assembly member also said he took offence at Mr Timmerman's comments comparing the Islanders with the Palestinians in the West Bank.

While the Islands are internally self-governing, the UK continues to have sovereignty and Westminster remains responsible for matters including defence and foreign affairs.

Argentina meanwhile claims that the islands are theirs, and have requested that the government enter into negotiations over their sovereignty.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Timmerman said the British government must engage in direct talks with Argentina to resolve the ongoing diplomatic standoff.

"Nobody is interested in changing the way of life for the inhabitants of the Malvinas (Falklands)," Timerman said in an interview released by the Argentine government.

"What we do believe is that the 5-thousand square kilometres that are in dispute should be resolved and they (the British government) shouldn't continue to put off talks or make excuses over who should be seated at the table."

Timerman had been due to meet with Foreign Secretary William Hague, but last week Timerman refused to accept British terms for the bilateral meeting.

Mr Hague had declined Timerman's request for a one-on-one meeting, and insisted on bringing in members of the Falkland Islands Government, which Argentina does not recognise as legitimate.